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Medicines

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HRT prescriptions in England increased by 11 per cent in 2024-25

The data showed 14.7 million HRT items were prescribed in 2024-25.

23 Oct 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Antidepressants’ effect on physical health examined in first study of its kind

The study found antidepressants resulted in “clinically significant differences” in weight loss, heart rate and systolic blood pressure.

22 Oct 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Shortage-busting 'flexibilities' won't cut it

The policy shift is a sticking plaster over deeper problems, writes Outsider

08 Oct 2025 , 1 Min Article

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NPA: Community pharmacy could ’save the NHS billions’

The sector could save the NHS billions of pounds and improve patients’ lives through smarter medicines use, a new economic analysis has revealed.

06 Oct 2025 , 3 Min Article

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Patients have questioned the safety of paracetamol after Trump’s remarks, says NPA

A National Pharmacy Association survey revealed patients are less likely to get vaccinated after Donald Trump linked paracetamol and autism.

29 Sep 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Cheap talk from the APPG on medicines shortages

The APPG has set out a long wish list for solving drugs shortages

25 Sep 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Number of antidepressant items prescribed increased by 300,000 between March and June

The NHS Business Services Authority said 23,400,000 items were prescribed to 7,030,000 patients in the first financial quarter of 2025-26.

16 Sep 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Drug misuse deaths in Scotland falls – but opioids the most common cause

The National Records of Scotland said the number of deaths fell to its lowest figure since 2017.

05 Sep 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Mounjaro price hike ‘will drive more patients to black market’

Lilly decision will price thousands out of the legitimate market, a pharmacist warns.

15 Aug 2025 , 2 Min Article

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Could a single national formulary really get off the ground?

How realistic is Labour's ambition to have a single formulary within two years?

14 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Mounjaro manufacturer raises UK list price by 170% under Trump pressure

Lilly hikes price in response to Trump warning to 'foreign freeloaders'

14 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Government to consult on shortage-busting switching powers for pharmacists

DHSC announces plans for long-awaited consultation on pharmacist flexibilities.

11 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Lords committee launches inquiry into medicines shortages in the UK

The House of Lords Public Services Committee will look at the causes of shortages and effectiveness of current measures designed to address them.

06 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Pharmacies in Scotland urged to prepare for big increase in eye treatment prescriptions

The number of prescriptions written by independent prescriber community optometrists and sent for dispensing in pharmacies is set to rise.

05 Aug 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Limit TB drugs to one month’s supply, warns MHRA amid shortages

Prioritise active TB cases to conserve supplies, MHRA tells prescribers

31 Jul 2025 , 1 Min Article

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Items prescribed for dependency-forming medicines fell from 2016-17 to 2024-25

The number of patients prescribed the medicines fell by 14 per cent, going from 8.1 million in 2016-17 to seven million in 2024-25.

31 Jul 2025 , 1 Min Article

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